[SIGCIS-Members] From HuffPost UK: The Queen Has Posted On Instagram For The First Time

[Brian Randell]

Hi:

From HuffpostUK:

"The Queen Has Posted On Instagram For The First Time
HuffPost UK

The Queen has posted on Instagram for the first time while on trip to the London Science Museum. The monarch shared a picture of a letter sent to her great-great-grandfather, Prince Albert, on the already established Royal Family account, which has been used in the past to share images of the Queen's activities by staff.The account already has 4.6 million followers, immediately elevating her to 'Instagram Influencer' status.> View this post on Instagram>> A post shared by The Royal Family ... Read the full story<https://apple.news/AbmOvrve7TWqb3_ZlZvHb3g>"

In case you have trouble opening the link, here is the text of the Queen’s post:

"153,610 likes

theroyalfamily<https://www.instagram.com/theroyalfamily/>

Today, as I visit the Science Museum I was interested to discover a letter from the Royal Archives, written in 1843 to my great-great-grandfather Prince Albert.
Charles Babbage, credited as the world’s first computer pioneer, designed the “Difference Engine”, of which Prince Albert had the opportunity to see a prototype in July 1843.
In the letter, Babbage told Queen Victoria and Prince Albert about his invention the “Analytical Engine” upon which the first computer programmes were created by Ada Lovelace, a daughter of Lord Byron.
Today, I had the pleasure of learning about children’s computer coding initiatives and it seems fitting to me that I publish this Instagram post, at the Science Museum which has long championed technology, innovation and inspired the next generation of inventors.
Elizabeth R.
PHOTOS: Supplied by the Royal Archives © Royal Collection Trust / Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2019”

And here is my transcription of  the photograph of the two-page handwritten letter from Charles Babbage referred to in the post:

“Sir:
       In presuming to place in your hands the accompanying volume I am actuated by a feeling beyond the mere desire of expressing my dutiful respect.
      When you did me the honour of examining the Difference Engine Your Royal Highness proved that you not only understood generally the nature of the mechanism, but also its important bearing on human knowledge.
      Having myself abstained from any publication on the subject solely because I wished to apply my whole effort to the completion of the invention, it has been my good fortune to find in a distinguished Italian Philosopher an excellent interpreter of the mathematical part of the subject, and also a Translator and Commentator whose comprehensive views have done full justice to the original.
     The control of the Analytical Engine over all the great Astronomical questions on which the safety of the Navy so much depends can scarcely fail to impart to the subject an interest in the mind of Her Majesty: that interest may be still further increased when the Queen is made acquainted with the fact that the author of that admirable Commentary is an English Peeress the daughter of the late Lord Byron.


                                                I am Sir
                                               With the most profound Respect
                                               Your Royal Highness’
                                               Most Obedient Humble Servant
Dorset St                                C. Babbage
Manchester Square
      15 September 1843"


Cheers

Brian Randell


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